Listen up.
While you’re doom-scrolling TikTok worried about AI taking your future job, some 19-year-old is making $500/week using ChatGPT to write emails for local businesses.
The difference? They stopped being scared and started getting paid.
I run BrandScape Studio. I use ChatGPT every single day. Not to “experiment.” Not to “explore possibilities.” To make money. Period.
And if you’re a broke college student reading this, you’re actually in the PERFECT position to cash in. Here’s why.
Table of Contents
The Brutal Truth Nobody’s Telling You
You’re not competing against AI. You’re competing against people who USE AI.
Read that again.
The barista job you’re applying for? Someone using ChatGPT to write their cover letter got it.
That internship? Went to the kid using AI to crush the case study.
Your future career? It’s being built RIGHT NOW by someone half your age using ChatGPT.
But here’s what’s crazy…
Most people using ChatGPT are terrible at it. They’re like someone with a Ferrari who doesn’t know how to drive stick.
That’s your opportunity.
The $100/Hour Reality Check
Here’s what I did yesterday with ChatGPT in 47 minutes:
- Wrote 5 blog posts for a client ($500)
- Generated 30 social media hooks ($150)
- Created email sequences for 2 businesses ($300)
- Fixed someone’s Python code ($200)
Total: $1,150
Time invested: Less than your Netflix binge
“But Alex, I don’t know how to do any of that!”
Neither did I six months ago. The difference? I started.
The 5 Ways to Make Money with ChatGPT (That Actually Work)
1. The “Homework Arbitrage” Method
What it is: Help local businesses write stuff they hate writing.
The play:
- Email 10 local restaurants/gyms/dentists
- Offer to write their Google My Business descriptions for $50
- Use ChatGPT. Takes 10 minutes per client.
- Scale to 20 clients = $1,000
The prompt that prints money:
text"Write a compelling Google My Business description for [business name], a [type of business] in [city]. Include their unique selling points: [list 3 things]. Make it exactly 750 characters, local-focused, and include a call-to-action."
2. The “Content Factory” Method
What it is: Become a content machine for busy entrepreneurs.
The reality: Every “guru” needs 30 pieces of content per week. They’ll pay $20-50 per post.
The math: 3 clients × 10 posts/week × $30 = $900/week
Here’s the thing – you’re not writing. You’re prompting. Big difference.
3. The “Code Without Coding” Method
What it is: Solve basic coding problems for people who can’t Google.
The opportunity: Freelance platforms are FULL of people paying $100+ for simple scripts.
The secret: ChatGPT writes better code than most junior developers.
I made $2,400 last month fixing WordPress sites. I don’t know PHP. ChatGPT does.
4. The “AI Image Hustle”
What it is: Create AI images for people who think it’s rocket science.
The goldmine: Book covers, social media graphics, podcast covers.
The rate: $50-200 per project
I generate prompts that create images people think took hours in Photoshop. They took 3 minutes.
5. The “Prompt Consulting” Play
What it is: Teach businesses how to use ChatGPT (ironic, right?).
The pitch: “I’ll save your team 10 hours/week with AI”
The price: $500-2000 per training session
College students afraid of AI are missing this: Businesses are MORE afraid than you. They’ll pay you to hold their hand.
The Mistakes That Keep You Broke
Mistake #1: Thinking ChatGPT is cheating
Your professor using Google Scholar isn’t cheating. It’s called using tools. Welcome to 2024.
Mistake #2: Waiting to be “ready”
You’re in college. You’re literally trained to learn by doing. So DO.
Mistake #3: Overcomplicating it
You don’t need a business plan. You need one client. Get one. Then get another.
Mistake #4: Hiding that you use AI
Own it. “I use AI to deliver 10x faster than my competition” is a SELLING POINT.
Your 7-Day Money Challenge
Day 1-2: Pick ONE method above. Just one.
Day 3: Find 10 potential clients (local businesses, LinkedIn, your college job board)
Day 4-5: Send this exact message to all 10:
“Hey [name], I help [type of business] save 5 hours/week on [specific task] using AI. I can show you exactly what I’d create for you – free sample, no strings. Interested?”
Day 6: Create free samples for everyone who responds using ChatGPT
Day 7: Close your first paying client
Most of you won’t do this. You’ll read it, think “cool,” and go back to complaining about being broke.
But ONE of you will actually do it. And in 7 days, you’ll message me saying you made your first $100.
That person gets to join the 1% who USE AI instead of fearing it.
The Part Where I Sell You (But Also Give Value)
Look, I could charge you $997 for this information. Some “guru” probably will, repackaging this exact post.
Instead, here’s the deal:
Join my newsletter (it’s free, because I make money actually DOING this stuff, not talking about it).
Every week you get:
- 3 copy-paste prompts that made me money that week
- 1 side hustle you can start with $0
- Real screenshots of what’s working NOW
But honestly? 90% of you won’t even sign up. You’ll bookmark this post and forget about it.
The 10% who do? You’re the ones who’ll be making $2K/month by semester’s end while everyone else is fighting for unpaid internships.
The Bottom Line
You’re sitting in a dorm room or library right now with:
- A laptop
- Internet connection
- Access to ChatGPT
- 168 hours this week
That’s literally ALL you need to make your first $1,000.
The question isn’t “Can I use ChatGPT to make money?”
The question is: “Will I stop making excuses and start making money?”
Because while you’re reading this, someone younger, dumber, and less qualified than you is closing their third client of the day.
Using ChatGPT.
Making money.
Living proof that AI isn’t replacing you – your fear is.
Your move.
P.S. – Still scared AI will take your job? Good. Use that fear. Because the only thing scarier than AI taking your job is everyone else learning to use AI while you don’t.
P.P.S. – That newsletter I mentioned? First 100 subscribers get my “30 Prompts That Print Money” guide. Currently at 67. Your choice.
[SIGN UP FOR THE AI MONEY NEWSLETTER →]/newsletter
About the author: I run BrandScape Studio, turning AI anxiety into AI advantage. I write code I don’t understand, create images that sell for hundreds, and help businesses automate tasks they’ve been overpaying for. And yes, ChatGPT helped write this post. That’s the point
